Just like the New York Jets as a team only had a brief time to reflect on the Tampa Bay game before moving on to Patriots Week, we here at TOJ were in the same boat. The week 1 victory was awesome, and allowed Jets fans to rub it in the faces of all the “experts” who predicted 42-0 losses and 0-16 seasons, but now it is time to look ahead to bigger and better things. The Patriots are perhaps more vulnerable than we’ve seen them in the past decade with a ton of injuries, and they could be ripe for an upset. Today I’ll be buying and selling what we saw in the first game of the season and what we can expect tonight against Tom Brady and co.Continue reading “Turn On The Jets Stock Watch – Jets/Patriots Gameday Edition”

I’m just going to go ahead and do what everybody else did who had a bad week last week and blame it on the replacement refs.

Speaking of replacement refs, on Thursday morning after the league struck the deal to bring back the real refs, I happened to be listening to Mike and Mike on my way into work (The iPod connection in my car is broken and Boomer and Carton were at a commercial, okay). They had Adam Schefter on, which should have been an big enough clue to turn the channel and spare myself, but I kept it on. The first thing Schefter did, I kid you not, was praise Steve Young and Trent Dilfer for speaking their minds about the whole Monday Night reffing debacle. This made me want to veer off the side of the road and total my car. I guess the best thing you can say is that Schefter didn’t give himself the credit for ending the ref lockout, although that’s pretty much what he was doing. “Look at us here at ESPN! We’re not just shills for our husbands, the NFL! And better yet, what we say matters!” As if at any point during the negotiations, anybody brought up anything Trent Dilfer or Steve Young said. This just in: ESPN somewhat enjoys itself.

Patriots (-4) at Bills

The Patriots can’t lose three straight and start out 1-3, right? I would love to see it happen, but I just can’t. I have to think the Pats will go into this one totally desperate. Plus, did you see how the Bills’ defense looked against the Jets? Have you seen what the Jets offense has looked like since? I suppose the Pats’ offense isn’t as dominant as it once was, but I still can’t see them struggling to score too much. They should win by a touchdown.

Falcons -7 vs. Panthers

This season is setting up so darn perfectly for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. They really are the NFL’s new version of the San Diego Chargers, and Ryan is playing the Philip Rivers role. Ryan’s done nothing since turning pro except put up good numbers, win a lot in the regular season and crap the bed in the postseason. Sound familiar? The Falcons will roll to something like 13-3 this year, get a bye, then host the Giants in the 2nd round and lose 27-13. As for this week, they’ll put up enough points at home against a woeful Carolina team to cover this spread.

Giants +1.5 at Eagles

The road team in this rivalry always seems to play well, and the Giants in general are usually steady away from home. Lincoln Financial Field is going to be all sorts boozed up for this one in a way only Philadelphians can, which is going to make it even sweeter when the Giants waltz in and pummel Michael Vick. At halftime, Eagles fans will be chanting for Nick Foles, and will then spend the entire second half on hold trying to get through to WIP’s postgame show to complain about “Andy Reid’s Awwfensive playcawwwling down thurr awn the gowl loine”.

Bonus Non-Football Bet of the Week (Season Record 2-1)

We nailed it last week with Manchester United over Liverpool, so let’s stick with the Premier League and another big matchup between two of England’s top teams, Chelsea and Arsenal. Chelsea is in first place and has only allowed two goals in five Premier League games so far. Arsenal ha started to score a little more as of late, but started the year off by being shutout by Stoke City and Sunderland. I like Chelsea’s chances to pitch another shutout and snag a late goal, and at +235 I think it’s worth a shot.

New Orleans (-4.5) vs. San Francisco – Thoroughly exhausted of hearing about this game being outside. The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow and unless a rain storm hits, I am more confident in the Saints taking care of business than the inexperienced 49ers pulling the upset in their first playoff game under John Harbaugh. New Orleans has enough of a running game to keep a balanced approach against a tough 49ers defense and San Francisco’s offense simply won’t make enough big plays to win this game.

Denver (+13.5) vs. New England – New England has a way of being disappointing in home playoff games as of late. Can Tebow really win this game? I’m not sure but he will do enough to keep this under the massive 13.5 point spread.

Baltimore (-7.5) vs. Houston – Sometimes these games get over-analyzed when things should come down to something simple like: do you think rookie T.J. Yates is going into Baltimore, where the Ravens were 8-0 this year, and doing enough to beat that defense? I certainly don’t.

Green Bay (-7.5) vs. Giants – This has been a week filled with everybody comparing this Giants team to the 2007 team, talking up the Giants as the only team who can knock off the Packers, Jason Pierre-Paul making guarantees, Antrel Rolle yapping as usual…and not much chatter coming from the defending champions who went 15-1 this year. This is Aaron Rodgers, having one of the best years in NFL history, not Brett Favre. Green Bay isn’t blowing this game.

Considering we don’t even know if these games will happen, let’s take a run through the schedule anyway…

Week 1 vs Dallas – I believe Rex Ryan when he says he will tone down the trash talk with his brother Rob. The focus of this game will on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It will be an emotional night in the stadium and around the city. The short off-season will affect Tony Romo getting back in sync and their defense learning a new system, the Jets will roll in this one.

Week 2 vs Jacksonville – Jets need revenge for a tough loss in 2009. David Garrard kills the defense with his scrambling but then remembers he is David Garrard and throws a late interception to Darrelle Revis, which clinches the Jets win and ends the Island’s streak of games without an INT.

Week 3 at Oakland – The Jets know they have a killer two games coming up but avoid the let-down against an average Oakland team. Mark Sanchez throws for three touchdowns and shows his maturity by sitting down to a plate of chicken instead of scarfing a hot dog down on the sideline.

Week 4 at Baltimore – Rex fires up the rhetoric about being passed over for the head coaching job, unfortunately the Jets are due for loss, again in ugly, low-scoring fashion to the Ravens.

Week 5 at New England – The Patriots are all types of riled up for revenge on the Jets in their building. Too bad for them, they will be seeing more airplanes around their stadium as the Jets are confident against Tom Brady and take another victory to move to 4-1.

Week 6 vs Miami – The good times roll the Jets win another close one in prime-time against the Dolphins. Super Bowl talk is dominating the headlines as the Jets build up an early lead in the AFC east.

Week 7 vs. San Diego – The LT revenge game. #21 electric glides to two touchdowns en route to a Jets victory and a gaudy 6-1 record heading into the bye week.

Week 8 Bye – No news here…which is a pleasant surprise.

Week 9 at Buffalo – 7-1 for the New York Jets? Yes, the re-building Bills lose their 4th straight to New York. Could this team keep the pace up for a ridiculous 14-2 record? I don’t think so.

Week 10 vs. New England – The Jets are feeling a little too good about themselves heading into this late season showdown and suffer an ugly loss in front of their home fans. Talk begins about another late season meltdown on the way…

Week 11 at Denver – The Jets lose their second straight game as they struggle on the short week with the cross country trip to Denver. Back to back bad games by Mark Sanchez lead to calls for…well nobody, because the Jets don’t have a competent backup. Mike Francesa guzzles a Pepsi over a 2o minute monologue about how the Jets are going nowhere this season.

Week 12 vs. Buffalo – The Bills prove to be the perfect cure for the Jets losing streak, but it doesn’t come easy. Every fan in the stadium is ready to jump off the edge as the Jets are trailing late but Sanchez delivers a late touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery (the only receiver I am certain will be on the team next year) for the game winner.

Week 13 at Washington – Don’t know who will be playing quarterback for the ‘Skins and it doesn’t matter as the Jets defense beats up on Mike Shanahan’s offense en route to a 9-3 record.

Week 14 vs. Kansas City – The Chiefs stink it up behind Matt Cassell all season as they struggle under higher expectations, the Jets add to their misery by improving to 10-3.

Week 15 at Philadelphia – Mike Vick runs wild on the Jets slower linebackers, ending the Jets winning streak and make the following week’s game against the Giants that much more important.

Week 16 vs. Giants – The 10-4 Jets take on the 7-7 Giants who are shockingly in the middle of another December collapse. Gang Green ends the Coughlin era with bang, clinching the victory with another vicious sack of Eli Manning.

Week 17 at Miami – The Jets need a victory to clinch the AFC East title and squeak one out over the Dolphins who are playing out the string…12-4 and AFC East champs.

The dust has fully settled on the Jets oh so sweet victory over the New England Patriots, the long weekend is over and it is time for a few key realizations —

Yes, it was a very, very important win in Jets franchise history to end New England’s season in their building as heavy underdogs. Honestly, outside of Super Bowl III, it is probably the greatest win in franchise history. Maybe I am too young and I’m not placing enough importance on another game in their past but to my knowledge and understanding, this should rank as #2.

However, there is no awards or trophies for beating your arch-rival in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Before the season started, Rex Ryan talked Super Bowl, the players talked Super Bowl, and most of us felt this team was good enough to win a Super Bowl, now is the time to seize the opportunity.

The Jets are exercising demons on a weekly basis. Rex Ryan can’t beat Peyton Manning? Those days are over. The Jets can’t beat the Patriots when it counts, Tom Brady is an infallible quarterback who never mistakes? Sorry, Phil Simms, Jim Nantz and every other mainstream media member, those are days are also over. Yet, the biggest demon still needs to be exercised. The demon of the Jets not winning a Super Bowl since 1969.

The novelty of getting to the AFC Championship Game has worn off. We did that last year. It was a pleasant surprise as a 9-7 team with a first year head coach and rookie quarterback and the Jets were rightly heavy underdogs to a team that was capable of going 16-0. This time around is different. The Jets expected to be here. They already beat Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh, this year and honestly they should be expected to win this game.

There are no excuses. I don’t want to hear about a hangover from the New England win when a Super Bowl birth is on the line. This team has Super Bowl talent throughout the entire organization, from the owner, to the GM, to the coaching staff, to every player on this roster.

The Jets have already taken over this town. There hasn’t been a bigger, more consistent story since the day Rex Ryan took over. However, the only way for this organization to truly become a part of history and permanently shed their labels as little brothers in this sports town is to win a championship.

Rex Ryan said it in all those Hard Knocks promos we loved so much, “it is time to win a Super Bowl”…nothing else is acceptable.

A few final thoughts on the Jets ending the Patriots season (wow, I love typing that)…

– Here’s a toast to Shaun Ellis and Jerricho Cotchery, a couple of Jets veterans who have been beaten by the Patriots for too long and stepped up with monster games.

– Santonio Holmes, how did you get those feet down?

– I can’t watch the replay of Shonn Greene’s game winning touchdown enough.

– Drew Coleman and Eric Smith picked the right time to have big time games.

– The Patriots went to Danny Woodhead way too much. It is almost like they built their game plan around him as an attempt to rub the Jets nose in the acquisition.

– How reliable and clutch has Braylon Edwards been this year?

– Wayne Hunter and Matt Slauson were quietly terrific, despite being the most unheralded players on the offensive line.

First thoughts on Jets/Steelers

– Pittsburgh is a very different team than the Colts and Patriots. The Jets played an inspired game against them earlier in the year but didn’t have to deal with Troy Polamalu, who obviously brings an entirely different dimension to their defense.

– Mark Sanchez needs to play with the same confidence he did against New England and that he did earlier in year against the Steelers. Pittsburgh, like most teams, will have a tough time covering both Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, never mind Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.

– The Jets should have the same division of carries between LaDanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. They shouldn’t be afraid to run the ball against Pittsburgh’s front seven.

– Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders will be tough match-ups in the slot. I expect another defensive game plan that will be defensive back heavy. The Jets need the same effort from all the backs who are active once again.

Bill Belichick completely out-coached in his own building by Rex Ryan. “The genius’ making idiotic challenges and fake punt calls.

Tom Brady completely confused by the Jets defense and cursing out himself and teammates on the sideline. Mark Sanchez outplaying him in his own building. Please, continue to say Sanchez is the reason the Jets can’t win a Super Bowl and isn’t a good NFL quarterback…he just beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the playoffs, back to back…in his second year.

Shonn Greene putting the game on ice and the entire Jets team, including Rex Ryan, celebrating in the end-zone.

Wes Welker nearly getting his head taken off by Eric Smith a couple of times. I don’t think we’ll hear him running his mouth anytime soon…because his season is over, which is just a beautiful thing. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the rest of the overrated New England Patriots who the mainstream media had a love affair with are done…they are done because the team you love to hate, beat them up in their own building and backed up their big talk.

Another week of Jets football means another 12 pack of predictions. TOJ actually fared well with his wild-card picks, going 3-1 on the games against the spread. In terms of my specific picks for Jets/Colts…eh, it was very hit or miss. Let’s see how we fare this week –

1. Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson will combine for 40 carries as the Jets attempt to control the clock and shorten the game. They will the run ball with some success but neither will crack the 100 yard mark individually.

2. Mark Sanchez will manage the game effectively. The Jets will be conservative with their playcalling, especially in the passing game. Sanchez will have at least one turnover but will also hit one big play down the field off play action when given the chance to go deep.

3. Tom Brady isn’t going to turn the football over.

4. The Jets will get one big play from their special teams, whether it is a return from Antonio Cromartie (who will be deep on kicks), a fake punt, or a surprise onsides kick. This play will help keep the game close into the fourth quarter.

5. The Jets defense will dare New England to run the ball to beat them and won’t stack the box. You will see plenty of Marquice Cole, Kyle Wilson, James Ihedigbo, and Dwight Lowery on the field and less of Bart Scott and Bryan Thomas. BenJarvus Green-Ellis will run for at least 65 yards and Danny Woodhead will add 65 total yards of offense.

6. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will both have big games working against the Jets safeties. One of them will score a touchdown and they will combine for at least 90 yards receiving.

7. Santonio Holmes or Braylon Edwards are going to beat Kyle Arrington for a touchdown on a long pass off play action.

8. Dustin Keller is going to have at least 6 receptions and be Mark Sanchez’s favorite target on third downs.

9. The Jets won’t attempt a field goal over 45 yards with Nick Folk, instead opting to go for it or punt on fourth down. Shayne Graham is going to miss at least one field goal attempt.

10. Brad Smith or LaDainian Tomlinson is going to throw a pass for the Jets.

11. There is going to be at least 3 or 4 scrums after the whistle and a personal foul or two in the first half alone.

12. My heart wants to pick the Jets, but in a lame attempt to be somewhat objective I have to admit the logical pick is New England. I do think the Jets will play them tight into the fourth quarter and ultimately lose something like 27-20. However, if the Jets can get the big special teams play I mentioned, and a signature performance from Mark Sanchez, and catch a break on defense with a tipped pass turned into an interception or a timely forced fumble, I wouldn’t be stunned if they stole the game late…I know those are a ton of ifs but this is the NFL and on any given Sunday…anything can happen.

Divisional Round Picks

Jets (+8.5) at New England

Baltimore (+3) at Pittsburgh – Wow, am I excited for this game. You know you could almost take a low-scoring game decided by 3 points or less to the bank. Baltimore is due to knock Pittsburgh out and I think this is the year for them to do it. The Steelers have problems on the offensive line and will miss Aaron Smith on defense. I expect the Ravens to steal a close one in the final seconds of what should be a great game.

Green Bay (+2.5) at Atlanta – I know everybody is on the Green Bay bandwagon, but guess what? So am I. Aaron Rodgers is going to be the best player on the field Saturday night and now that it looks like Green Bay found a running game, they will be balanced enough on offense to steal a tight, high-scoring game.

Seattle (+10) at Chicago – This line just feels too high after watching Seattle last week and knowing Jay Cutler is under center. This is going to be a close one and I wouldn’t be shocked if Seattle won the game, however in the end I do think Chicago will do enough to escape with a victory.